Abstract: Apparatus for removing excess fibers from the doffer of a sliver high pile fabric knitting machine and returning the fibers to the main cylinder for refeeding to the doffer. During the return of the fibers to the main cylinder, they are combed and aligned into a thin uniform film of parallel fibers for uniform redistribution on the main cylinder and uniform mixture with fresh, incoming fibers fed to the main cylinder by the sliver feed elements. The invention includes pneumatic suction for drawing fibers from the doffer into a substantially closed suction chamber, a flat perforated filter sheet fixed within the chamber to separate the fibers from the air currents in the chamber and a rubber covered sealing roll permitting the fibers to be discharged from the chamber to the ambient atmosphere without impairing the integrity of the vacuum in the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing excess fibers from the doffer of a sliver high pile fabric knitting machine and returning the fibers to the main cylinder for refeeding to the doffer. Upon the return of the fibers to the main cylinder, they are combed and aligned into a uniform layer of parallel fibers for uniform redistribution on the main cylinder and uniform mixture with fresh, incoming fibers fed by the sliver feed elements. The invention includes pneumatic suction for drawing fibers from the doffer into a substantially closed suction chamber, a rotatable filter roll within the chamber, which separates the air and the fibers and discharges the fibers from the chamber, and a sealing roll permitting the fibers to be discharged from the chamber without impairing the integrity of the vacuum therein. Fiber feeding elements composed of a rotatable wire-covered fiber return feed roll and a cooperating fiber feed plate return the recovered fibers to the main cylinder.

Abstract: A fiber transfer system for feeding fibers to the needles of a sliver high pile fabric circular knitting machine, in which the width of the fiber transfer path from the feed rolls to the needle line at the doffer is constant. Adjustable sliver entrance guides accurately direct the roving into the feed rolls and determine the location and width of the fiber transfer path. A continuous film of fibers of selected width and uniform density is transferred from the feed rolls via the main cylinder and doffer to the knitting machine needles. The main cylinder preferably is of a greater axial width than the doffer. It is covered by a narrow, elongated strip of wire-covered clothing wrapped helically around its periphery. The doffer is enveloped by straight wound card clothing, preferably constituted of a rectangular segment of wire-covered clothing having its opposite ends abutting on the doffer. The invention maximizes utilization of the fiber transfer area available to the knitting machine.